A solid waste management survey in Davao del Sur (school and household waste

management survey)
Mark Jude F. Trondillo, Jeneley A. Amaba, Lyndelle Ann D. Paniza, and John Rhico V. Cubol

Citation: AIP Conference Proceedings 1930, 020028 (2018); doi: 10.1063/1.5022922

View online: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5022922
View Table of Contents: http://aip.scitation.org/toc/apc/1930/1
Published by the American Institute of Physics

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 A Solid Waste Management Survey in Davao del Sur
(School and Household Waste Management Survey)
Mark Jude F. Trondillo1, a), Jeneley A. Amaba 2, b), Lyndelle Ann D. Paniza3, c)
and John Rhico V. Cubol4, d)
1
Institute of Computing and Engineering Technology, Digos City, Davao del Sur, Philippines,
2
Salud Cagas Technical and Vocational High School, Bacungan, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, Philippines
3
Holy Infant School of Malungon, Poblacion Malungon, Davao del Sur, Philippines
4
Heracleo Casco Memorial National High School, Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental, Philippines
a)
Corresponding author: mtrondillo@gmail.com
b)
jeneleyamaba@yahoo.com
c)
ladp0289@gmail.com
d)
cubol.johnrhico@gmail.com

Abstract. Environmental degradation has become a very alarming issue at present. Human activities have been the
primary cause of this unfortunate event which has resulted to other complications such as health problems. The
resources are limited and people solely depend on it for living. Thus, the necessity to address these concerns arises.
Various solid waste management programs have been established however the people’s commitment has continued to
challenge the local authorities as well as the cooperating agencies. This study was conducted in order to assess the
awareness, practice and attitude towards the existing solid waste management programs of the selected students in
Davao del Sur. It also aims to measure the effectiveness and current status of these implemented programs. The study
used survey method. One hundred sixty eight of 227 students were surveyed using a validated, self-administered
instrument. The study revealed that majority of the students is well aware of the existing solid waste management
programs, practice them and is willing to learn more about the issue. Others, on the other hand, do the opposite. It is
of great importance that all citizens must commit in the implementation of environmental programs so as to be more
effective.

INTRODUCTION
Being one of the developing countries, Philippines have increased waste generation matching its dramatic
growth of population, urbanization and enhanced living standards. Improper waste disposal has been a major
contributing factor to the environment degradation. Thus, an effective waste management system must be
introduced.
As emphasized in the 1987 Philippines Constitution, Article II, Section 16, the state shall protect and advance
the right of the people to a balance and healthful ecology in accordance with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
As of today, several methods have been developed in order to respond to the emerging waste management
problems.
The Ecological Solid Waste Management [3] in the Philippines also referred to as Republic Act 9003 is one
of the national programs mandated to address the issue on solid waste management. It provides directives to the
local government units (LGUs) for the creation of their respective Solid Waste Management Boards, formulation
of a ten-year Solid Waste Management Plans, construction of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and
construction of final disposal facilities.
However, in the past 16 years of its implementation, there has been very little transformation in solid waste
management. Large percentage of the total Filipino population is still unaware of the implementation of this law
and the adverse effect brought about by improper waste disposal.
This study endeavors to assess the solid waste management awareness, practices and attitude among high
school and K-12 students in Davao del Sur. Also, this survey will be measuring the effectiveness [1] of the existing
solid waste management programs implemented in the province.

International Conference on Engineering and Technology (IntCET 2017)

AIP Conf. Proc. 1930, 020028-1–020028-5; https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5022922
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-1622-2/$30.00

020028-1
 METHODOLOGY
The survey method was utilized in the study to attain its objectives. A questionnaire was given to 168 students
from a group of 227. The study was carried out at a high school and higher secondary schools in Davao del Sur.
The actual data gathering started with an orientation regarding the purpose and method of the study.
The instrument of research was a validated self-administered questionnaire. It was designed to assess student’s
awareness [2], practice and attitude on waste management for both at the school and at the household as well as
the effectiveness of the solid waste management programs in the province.
The education level of students served as the basis of comparison. It was categorized as Grade 9, 10 and 11.
The results in the two categories were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS (version 14). The p-values
less than 0.05 are considered significant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results revealed that many of the Grade 9 students are well aware of the programs conducted by local
authority/school regarding waste management compared to Grades 10 and 11 students. Majority of the students
for all grade levels have attended an awareness program conducted by the local authorities as well as by their
school administrators. With regards to the knowledge on the principles of waste characterization and
minimization, it was again the Grade 9 students who excelled more. 83.3% of the students surveyed agreed that
they have known the solid waste management programs in their school and household and believed that their
school administrators have an important role in implementing them.
Many students are also aware of waste segregation and believed in its importance for both in school and in
their homes. Again, Grade 9 students are more aware of the effective waste management mechanism to be adapted.
As to the adverse effects of improper waste management, there were no significant difference in awareness
between all grade levels and 87.5% of them answered they have the knowledge. But, it was only number of Grade
9 students who have known the penalties. They could get if violation of solid waste management is committed.
57.1% knows what e-waste is however only 53.6% of them know how to dispose them and many of them are the
students in Grades 11 and 9. Many students claimed that subjects with environmental topics are taught in their
schools for all grade levels.
When asked about their willingness to know about environmental issues and concerns, commitment to
minimize waste, if they practice waste segregation at school or at home and if they collect thrown garbage outside,
majority of the surveyed body answered positively. On the other hand, Grade 11 students practiced more the use
of kitchen waste as compost. While, it was the Grade 10 students who are more observant to the garbage thrown
at the roadside. Grade 11 students recognized more the threat that improper waste disposal may bring to humanity,
the need to practice waste segregation, the role played by school administrators and local authorities in adaptation
of solid waste management programs, their responsibility for waste generation and waste minimization. While
Grade 10 students believed more that household waste management is not a sole responsibility of their parents,
school administrators and local authorities.
Mostly, from the point of view of Grade 9 students, waste materials are collected according to schedule and
in the designated areas. According to the Grade 10 students, lot of them witnessed that waste collection is still
possible during weekends and holidays done once a week, claimed that everyone is informed of garbage collection
schedule, SWRF’s are utilized, no garbage is left uncollected, collection is done by maintenance staff and proper
measures are done for hazardous and infectious wastes. As to the effectiveness, the students surveyed rated the
solid waste management program implemented in the province as moderately effective on the average.

TABLE 1. Awareness to RA 9003 (p-values for grades 9, 10 and 11 students)

No. Questions Yes No p-Values
Are you aware of the Ecological Solid Waste Management 125 43
1 0.022*
Act (RA 9003)? (74.4%) (25.6%)

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 TABLE 2. Awareness and practice of solid waste management programs (p-values for grades 9, 10 and 11 students)
No. Questions Yes No p-Values
Did you ever attend any awareness programme conducted by 127 41
1 0.401ns
local authority/school regarding house hold waste management? (75.6%) (24.4%)
120 48
2 Do you know the principle of waste characterization? 0.006**
(71.4%) (28.6%)
100 68
3 Do you know the principle of solid waste minimization? 0.001**
(59.5%) (40.5%)
Do you know the solid waste management program in your school 140 28
4 0.154ns
or household waste management? (83.3%) (16.7%)
Do you think that school administrators have important role to 151 17
5 0.385ns
play in the implementation of solid waste management at school? (89.9%) (10.1%)
154 14
6 Do you know about segregation of waste? 0.637ns
(91.7%) (8.30%)
Do you think waste segregation is important in the school or 160 8
7 0.327ns
household? (95.2%) (4.80%)
Do you know the effective mechanism for school or household 127 41
8 0.042*
waste management? (75.6%) (24.4%)
147 21
9 Do you know the effects of improper waste management? 0.261ns
(87.5%) (12.5%)
Do you know the penalties for violation of solid waste 97 71
10 0.003**
management? (57.7%) (42.3%)
96 72
11 Are you aware of e-waste? 0.092ns
(57.1%) (42.9%)
90 78
12 Do you know how to dispose the e-waste? 0.000**
(53.6%) (46.4%)
133 35
13 Do you know school subjects with environmental topics? 0.897ns
(79.2%) (20.8%)
Are you willing to know about environmental issues and 150 18
14 0.791ns
concerns? (89.3%) (10.7%)
133 35
15 Are you committed to minimize the waste? 0.138ns
(79.2%) (20.8%)
127 41
16 Do you segregate solid waste in school or house hold wastes? 0.550ns
(75.6%) (24.4%)
97 71
17 Do you use kitchen waste as compost? 0.000**
(57.7%) (42.3%)
67 101
18 Do you throw your solid waste outside your room or household? 0.003**
(39.9%) (60.1%)
147 21
19 Do you see garbage on roadside while coming to school? 0.003**
(87.5%) (12.5%)

TABLE 3. Attitude towards solid waste management (p-values for grades 9, 10 and 11 students)
No. Questions Yes No p-Values
148 20
1 Improper waste disposal is a threat to environment. 0.001**
(88.1%) (11.9%)
157 11
2 Waste segregation is beneficial to my school and house. 0.021*
(93.5%) (6.50%)
Household waste management is the sole responsibility of my 59 109
3 0.000**
parents. (35.1%) (64.9%)
School waste management program should be spearheaded by the 146 22
4 0.008**
school administration. (86.9%) (13.1%)
Solid waste collection and disposal or household waste disposal is
105 63
5 the sole responsibility of the school administrator or local 0.000**
(62.5%) (37.5%)
authorities.
I am also responsible for the generation of school solid waste or 152 16
6 0.212ns
household waste. (90.5%) (9.50%)
151 17
07 I also have a role to minimize the school and house waste. 0.010*
(89.9%) (10.1%)

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 TABLE 4. Status of solid waste management program (p-values for grades 9, 10 and 11 students)
No. Questions Yes No p-Values
Waste materials are collected according to the schedule in school 111 57
1 0.000**
or home. (66.1%) (33.9%)
Waste materials are collected during weekends and even during 83 85
2 0.000**
holidays. (49.4%) (50.6%)
66 102
3 Solid wastes are collected once a week only. 0.000**
(39.3%) (60.7%)
Students, home or departments are informed on the days when 113 55
4 0.000**
garbage are to be collected. (67.3%) (32.7%)
Solid waste designated area or material recovery facility is used in 118 50
5 0.001**
the school management system or community. (70.2%) (29.8%)
93 75
6 No garbages are left uncollected in designated area. 0.028*
(55.4%) (44.6%)
107 61
7 Waste materials are collected in designated area. 0.000**
(63.7%) (36.3%)
Medical wastes from school are place in appropriate container
131 37
8 located throughout medical department facility at time of 0.101ns
(78.0%) (22.0%)
generation (if applicable).
84 84
9 Wastes are collected by the maintenance staff. 0.000**
(50.0%) (50.0%)
Infectious waste, chemical waste, toxic substances are collected
129 39
10 together, regardless of whether or not they are contaminated (if 0.503ns
(76.8%) (23.2%)
applicable).
Grease trap, kitchen waste, are collected by authorized staff in 96 72
11 0.000**
strong, leak proof containers that are clearly labeled. (57.1%) (42.9%)

TABLE 5. Effectiveness of solid waste management programs

No. Questions Numerical Rating Interpretation
Waste materials are collected according to the
1 3.40 Moderately Effective
schedule in school or home.
Waste materials are collected during weekends and
2 2.81 Slightly Not Effective
even during holidays.
3 Solid wastes are collected once a week only. 2.59 Slightly Not Effective
Students, home or departments are informed on the
4 3.21 Moderately Effective
days when garbage are to be collected.
Solid waste designated area or material recovery
5 facility is used in the school management system or 2.98 Slightly Not Effective
community.
6 No garbage are left uncollected in designated area. 2.71 Slightly Not Effective
7 Waste materials are collected in designated area. 3.16 Moderately Effective
Medical wastes from school are place in appropriate
8 container located throughout medical department 3.25 Moderately Effective
facility at time of generation (if applicable).
9 Wastes are collected by the maintenance staff. 3.06 Moderately Effective
Infectious waste, chemical waste, toxic substances
10 are collected together, regardless of whether or not 3.26 Moderately Effective
they are contaminated (if applicable).
Grease trap, kitchen waste, are collected by
11 authorized staff in strong, leak proof containers that 3.18 Moderately Effective
are clearly labeled.

CONCLUSION
The local authorities’ commitment to solid waste management program implementations is insufficient to
succeed in addressing environmental issues as well as its related concerns. Social responsibility must be
emphasized and passed on to each and every individual to improve effectiveness of well thought plans. This may
be achieved through proper information dissemination not only to the students but also to the parents.

020028-4
 From the study conducted, it was found out that there are still number of students who are unaware of these
waste management programs or if they have the knowledge, do not have the willingness to comply. For the
purpose of giving importance to the roles, each people plays in creating a safe and healthy [4] environment,
education institutions of the country can be a helpful instrument in the implementation of these programs.

REFERENCES
1. A. R. Obsioma, R. P. Alabado, J. E. Acosta, E. P. Europa and J. C. Malaga, “Impact and effectiveness of
materials recovery facilities as a strategy to reduce solid wastes of SANPASADA communities,” University
of the Philippines Mindanao, 2008.
2. C. D. Licy, R. Vivek, K. Saritha, T. K. Anies and C. T. Josphina, Journal of Environment 2, 147-150 (2013).
3. D. M. Solana and E. D. Cruz, Ecological footprint of waste generation in Digos City, Davao del Sur,
University of Southeastern Philippines, 2016.
4. V. Lupase, “Health research priorities-Region 11: 2006-2010,” Institute of Graduate Studies and Research,
Davao Medical School Foundation, 2010.

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